First up, tending to the garden. Unbeknownst to Renya and the girls, the grass and trees growing in the garden were not normal. Frau had been supplying them with mana and nutrients. The mana came from Renya. As for the nutrients… Well, as Frau liked to put it, the source of the nutrients was “hush-hush.” The result was that while the plants looked normal, they were actually more monster than flora. When she came across grass that had grown too long, she politely apologized before plucking them out. Once they were dried and carefully flattened, she could extract thin strands of tough fiber from the long, slender leaves of the grass. She had no idea why, but by weaving various fibers together, she could produce a thread many times more durable than its parts.
On one side of the garden, a certain type of plant seemed to flourish. The numerous stems, however, were actually connected underground, meaning that it was all one organism. The tips of this plant’s stems contained a deadly toxin.
Above ground, its leaves were home to spiders, jet black in color, that quietly weaved their web-like nests. These used to be regular spiders that lived in the garden, but now, they were better categorized as monsters. Being the size of a human thumb, they were somewhat larger than regular ones of their breed, so they also received Frau’s stern warning to not show up when Shion or Rona were around.
The silk they produced was the same color as their body. Though thin and supple, the black thread was nonetheless remarkably tough. Frau knew the spiders to sometimes go to places hidden from the eyes of the residents, where they hunted small birds and animals. When a dozen of them got together, the webs they spun could catch even humans. Once their prey was captured, they injected a strong solvent into its body, dissolving its innards so they could suck them up. Soon, the victim would be reduced to nothing but skin and bones — literally. When this happened, Frau would have to clean up after them. Faced with a pile of remains, she would have no choice but to dry them, crush them up, and bury them in the garden.
As a matter of fact, the clothes Renya currently wore were made with the silk from the spiders and the fibers of the grasses. Both were extremely difficult to procure and handle, so mass production was out of the question. At the very least, though, Frau intended to make sets for Shion and Rona at some point.
There were also many other trees and plants growing in the garden, but even Frau couldn’t keep tabs on which ones were what kind of monster. It wouldn’t be worth it anyway; every time she looked away, some of them would morph into different ones. An accurate record was an impossible task. She committed to memory only the ones she frequently used, figuring she could examine the rest whenever the need arose.
Once the garden had been taken care of, it was break time. Frau had no need to eat, so when the house was vacated, she didn’t need to cook. Instead, she lowered herself onto her favorite resting spot — Renya’s bed — for a short break.
The garden wasn’t that big, but for some reason, there were frequently people strewn across the ground. In order to keep them from being seen by Renya and the girls, she hid the bodies deep within thick growths of plants. They had probably been immobilized by some sort of toxin and passed — whether out or away, she didn’t care to check. Left there, they would eventually be pulled into the earth by the roots around them. At times, though, it was necessary for her to take a couple of live ones and throw them into the basement. What awaited her poor victims down there was a very cold and terrible end. The basement things loved the warmth of the living. Specifically, they loved sucking it out.
Frau didn’t exactly need the constant supply of fresh bodies, but she certainly appreciated it. She had no idea who kept sending them over, and she didn’t care enough to find out. They had her gratitude, though.
“Frau should thank them some time.”
Being a fairy who knew her manners, Frau would very much like to say thanks in person, but she simply had no way of figuring out who to thank. The thought elicited a sigh from her as she prepared the ingredients for the next meal in the quiet afternoon kitchen.
There was much to prepare. Various soups were needed for flavor, yeast was required to make bread, vegetables had to be ground to a paste, and dressings needed to be mixed. These, and most of her repertoire of techniques, were all taught by Renya. While she worked, she cast Control to bring the laundry in. They were then folded, and the nightwear was neatly placed on the beds, taking care to avoid wrinkles.
Then, she began cooking dinner and readying the bath. Dinner today was ground meat with a dab of spice, cheese-coated pasta, and a salad of leafy vegetables with boiled eggs and chicken. The finishing touch was a fruit bowl and some wine. The wine was cheap, but it did its job.
Once she finished cleaning up after dinner, her day’s work was mostly done. There remained a few more duties such as cleaning the bathroom and readying the ingredients for breakfast tomorrow, but there was no rush. As long as she got those done before going to bed, it would be fine.
For some reason, Rona was the first to sleep. Shion was next, followed by Renya. Frau was fairly sure there was some reason for Renya turning in last. She never asked, though, because she was also fairly sure the reason would turn out to be something very stupid that Renya deemed extremely important.
Only after the three residents were sound asleep did Frau crawl into bed. When she did, it was the cue for those shapeless and soundless forms to emerge from the basement. Through the rest of the night, countless shadows would roam the house in silence, guarding it from intruders. Their work would continue until the next morning when she opened the curtains again.
What should Frau make for breakfast tomorrow? That one last thought occupied her mind as she closed her eyes.
So did the day of a silkie come to a close.